Effect of Light Intensity on Confinement Rearing of Male Turkeys l W A Y N E L . BACON AND SHERMAN P . TOUCHBURN 2
Department of Poultry Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691 (Received for publication August 27, 1975)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 999-1007, 1976
INTRODUCTION
N
UMEROUS reports exist in the literature concerning the effect of light intensity on the growth of broiler chickens. Barott and Pringle (1951) studied the effects of 1.1, 5.4, 11, 33, 66, 130, and 260 lux on growth rate. Using the 33 lux group as a reference, the lower intensities were within 2%, while the 130 and 260 lux groups were depressed 7 to 8%. Shutze et al. (1960) reported on differences in growth rates between 11 and 33 lux of continuous light or alternating 2 hour periods of 11 and 33 lux. At 33 lux, 24 hour duration was superior to 12 hours. For promoting growth in broilers, Skoglund and Palmer (1962) found 5.4 lux to be superior to 22, 54, 110, 1300 lux. The general trend was for better growth in the lower light intensity groups. The effect of light intensities of 33 and 250 lux with intermittent intensities of 5.8 and 380 lux (33), and 33 and 500 lux (250)
1. Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 94-75 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691. 2. Present address: Department of Animal Science, Macdonald College, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
999
were studied by Gore et al. (1969). The intermittent intensities were given 15 minutes for every 30, 60, or 120 minutes over a period of 12 hours per day. In addition, groups given light at an intensity of 33 lux for 15 minutes for every 30, 60 and 120 minutes intermittent with darkness for 12 hours per day were included in this study. In general, the best growth rates were in the groups with the lowest intensities and with durations of 15 minutes out of 60 minutes for the 12 hour treatment period. Beane et al. (1965) compared regimens of 30 and 1.1 lux given for 24 hours per day. The latter intensity gave superior growth in 1 of 2 experiments. When the birds were given 8 hours of 30 lux and 16 hours of 1.1 lux or 8 hours of 30 lux and 16 hours of darkness, inferior growth rates were observed. In turkeys, Shoffner et al. (1962) studied the effect of continuous vs. seasonal and 6 hours of light per day at intensities of 66 lux in one experiment and 22 lux in a second experiment. In both experiments, the males and females responded similarly. At 14 weeks of age, the 6 hour group was heavier than the other two groups, while at 24 weeks the differences were not as great and did not repeat in the two experiments. At 14 weeks
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Oakland University on June 12, 2015
ABSTRACT Light intensities of .11, 1.1, 11 and 33 lux of 12 hours per day duration were studied for their effect on growth rate and feed utilization efficiency. The two experiments were initiated when the birds were 3 weeks old. Up to 12-14 weeks of age, the .11 lux intensity was superior to the other treatments. After this age, the other treatments were superior. Two other experiments were conducted with a crossover design. Birds were reared under either 11 or .11 lux from 3 to 12 weeks of age, then half of each group was maintained, and half was switched to either the higher or lower intensity. Best growth up to 12 weeks of age was associated with .11 lux. Best growth to 22 weeks was associated with 11 lux. Crossing from high to low or low to high had no beneficial effects in either experiment.
1000
W. L. BACON AND S. P. TOUCHBURN
the .54 lux treatment depressed growth rate and feed utilization in comparison to the 11 lux treatment. The effect of low intensity light in broiler chicken production clearly gives superior performance in birds at market age. No such definitive data exists for turkeys. The present experiments were conducted to examine the relationship between light intensity and growth rate. Data are also presented concerning feed utilization efficiency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Turkeys. All turkeys were males obtained from commercial suppliers and were the large broad breasted white type grown commercially in this area. However, slightly different strains were used in each experiment, and in Experiment 3 two different strains were
TABLE 1.—The effect of light intensity on body weight in Experiments 1 and 2
Age (wks.)
Mean body wt. (kg.)
33
4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 21 22
.84 1.29 1.85 2.44 3.09 4.41 6.01 7.66 9.05 10.49 11.74 12.47 13.25
02 -.02 -.01 -.09 -.10 -.13 -.22 -.24 -.20 -.19 -.07 -.03 .03
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 24
.57 1.40 2.55 3.78 5.13 6.36 7.52 8.12 9.96 11.07 11.66 12.18
0 -.05 -.09 -.17 -.18 -.17 -.10 0 .07 .10 .09 .06
Light intensity (Lux) 11
Experiment 1 0 0 -.02 0 -.01 -.01 -.05 .02 -.07 -.04 -.15 -.04 -.19 -.01 -.26 .04 -.29 .02 -.13 -.05 -.07 .13 .07 .20 .09 .35 Experiment 2 -.01 -.01 -.01 -.04 -.12 .03 .03 -.12 -.03 -.09 -.15 .02 -.05 -.08 -.05 -.02 -.07 -.06 -.10 .11 -.11 .14 -.07 .20
'LSD at either P < .05 or .01 as indicated. Difference from mean.
2
1.1
.11
P
LSD 1
0 .04 .03 .11 .21 .31 .42 .46 .48 .38 0 -.25 -.47
Department of Poultry Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691 (Received for publication August 27, 1975)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 999-1007, 1976
INTRODUCTION
N
UMEROUS reports exist in the literature concerning the effect of light intensity on the growth of broiler chickens. Barott and Pringle (1951) studied the effects of 1.1, 5.4, 11, 33, 66, 130, and 260 lux on growth rate. Using the 33 lux group as a reference, the lower intensities were within 2%, while the 130 and 260 lux groups were depressed 7 to 8%. Shutze et al. (1960) reported on differences in growth rates between 11 and 33 lux of continuous light or alternating 2 hour periods of 11 and 33 lux. At 33 lux, 24 hour duration was superior to 12 hours. For promoting growth in broilers, Skoglund and Palmer (1962) found 5.4 lux to be superior to 22, 54, 110, 1300 lux. The general trend was for better growth in the lower light intensity groups. The effect of light intensities of 33 and 250 lux with intermittent intensities of 5.8 and 380 lux (33), and 33 and 500 lux (250)
1. Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 94-75 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691. 2. Present address: Department of Animal Science, Macdonald College, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
999
were studied by Gore et al. (1969). The intermittent intensities were given 15 minutes for every 30, 60, or 120 minutes over a period of 12 hours per day. In addition, groups given light at an intensity of 33 lux for 15 minutes for every 30, 60 and 120 minutes intermittent with darkness for 12 hours per day were included in this study. In general, the best growth rates were in the groups with the lowest intensities and with durations of 15 minutes out of 60 minutes for the 12 hour treatment period. Beane et al. (1965) compared regimens of 30 and 1.1 lux given for 24 hours per day. The latter intensity gave superior growth in 1 of 2 experiments. When the birds were given 8 hours of 30 lux and 16 hours of 1.1 lux or 8 hours of 30 lux and 16 hours of darkness, inferior growth rates were observed. In turkeys, Shoffner et al. (1962) studied the effect of continuous vs. seasonal and 6 hours of light per day at intensities of 66 lux in one experiment and 22 lux in a second experiment. In both experiments, the males and females responded similarly. At 14 weeks of age, the 6 hour group was heavier than the other two groups, while at 24 weeks the differences were not as great and did not repeat in the two experiments. At 14 weeks
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Oakland University on June 12, 2015
ABSTRACT Light intensities of .11, 1.1, 11 and 33 lux of 12 hours per day duration were studied for their effect on growth rate and feed utilization efficiency. The two experiments were initiated when the birds were 3 weeks old. Up to 12-14 weeks of age, the .11 lux intensity was superior to the other treatments. After this age, the other treatments were superior. Two other experiments were conducted with a crossover design. Birds were reared under either 11 or .11 lux from 3 to 12 weeks of age, then half of each group was maintained, and half was switched to either the higher or lower intensity. Best growth up to 12 weeks of age was associated with .11 lux. Best growth to 22 weeks was associated with 11 lux. Crossing from high to low or low to high had no beneficial effects in either experiment.
1000
W. L. BACON AND S. P. TOUCHBURN
the .54 lux treatment depressed growth rate and feed utilization in comparison to the 11 lux treatment. The effect of low intensity light in broiler chicken production clearly gives superior performance in birds at market age. No such definitive data exists for turkeys. The present experiments were conducted to examine the relationship between light intensity and growth rate. Data are also presented concerning feed utilization efficiency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Turkeys. All turkeys were males obtained from commercial suppliers and were the large broad breasted white type grown commercially in this area. However, slightly different strains were used in each experiment, and in Experiment 3 two different strains were
TABLE 1.—The effect of light intensity on body weight in Experiments 1 and 2
Age (wks.)
Mean body wt. (kg.)
33
4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 21 22
.84 1.29 1.85 2.44 3.09 4.41 6.01 7.66 9.05 10.49 11.74 12.47 13.25
02 -.02 -.01 -.09 -.10 -.13 -.22 -.24 -.20 -.19 -.07 -.03 .03
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 24
.57 1.40 2.55 3.78 5.13 6.36 7.52 8.12 9.96 11.07 11.66 12.18
0 -.05 -.09 -.17 -.18 -.17 -.10 0 .07 .10 .09 .06
Light intensity (Lux) 11
Experiment 1 0 0 -.02 0 -.01 -.01 -.05 .02 -.07 -.04 -.15 -.04 -.19 -.01 -.26 .04 -.29 .02 -.13 -.05 -.07 .13 .07 .20 .09 .35 Experiment 2 -.01 -.01 -.01 -.04 -.12 .03 .03 -.12 -.03 -.09 -.15 .02 -.05 -.08 -.05 -.02 -.07 -.06 -.10 .11 -.11 .14 -.07 .20
'LSD at either P < .05 or .01 as indicated. Difference from mean.
2
1.1
.11
P
LSD 1
0 .04 .03 .11 .21 .31 .42 .46 .48 .38 0 -.25 -.47
